Art Beat

Thursday, May 24, 2007

John Rankine

The White St. Studio Walk turned into one big, social hug fest. Friday's perfect weather brought out a whole lot of people -- locals and tourists alike.

Most of the artists I talked with were up-beat and said they sold well. Zeek Taylor sold out of original work a half hour after he opened up his home to the public. There was even a big smile from my favorite proverbial grouch John Willer, who with wife Mary Springer, had a successful show.

We had a lot of people come by to say hi at our soon- to-be White St. digs. We are giving up our high profile office at the bottom of Planer Hill at the end of the month for a bigger space with parking at the former White St. Café. It will house the Citizen and the new Summit Publications and Graphics.

Landlord Eleanor Lux said the neighborhood is thrilled we are moving in, and that the only thing that could make it more perfect is if we added an espresso machine and served coffee on the big veranda Thursday morning when the paper comes out.

Now I'll have no excuse for not showing at White St.

It seemed the entire town, and then some, showed up at Rogues Castle Saturday afternoon in Beaver. Smith was in his glory and genuinely thrilled to be showing people around his over-the-top San Simeonesque fortress.

Mel Shipley did an outstanding job of creating the bronze dragon for the mantel that didn't get lost, in what has to be the largest fireplace ever.

For me the most anticipated show of the month is James Yale's "sort of retrospective" at EureKan Art this Saturday. The show will feature 20 original works, and James' smiling face will be there to greet you.

Another great Eureka artist I admire is the elusive David Hussey. David continues his beautiful series of birds Saturday at Serendipity at the Crescent Hotel from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m.

And fans of dance should not miss Tamarah Jonason's dance program at the AUD. Tamarah promised that this performance is tight, edited and everything she wants to say in just over an hour. I look forward to it. Please come out and support this talented dancer and choreographer. May 25, 26, 28, starting at 7:30 p.m.

After receiving a personal, unprintable, and what I can only call an attack, tirade email from Llee Heflin, (you can read his edited and very cleaned-up version he sent in this weeks Citizen forum), I just want to say to the Holiday Island Photography Club, that in no way did I diss you or your photography when I mentioned in Art Beat two weeks ago that "the group photography show at Mud St. Café "Flowers" is worth viewing just to see Richard Quick's three exquisite photographs." This comment was not to put any of you down, but to acknowledge Richard's beautiful work that I thought surpassed everything in the show, including my own photographs. It was meant as a compliment to Richard, not a critique of your work, many of which I admired.

Maybe Llee should just stick to cooking, which he does best. Everyone is dying to know his recipe for peanut butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies.